A thug who poured milkshake over a homeless man has been convicted thanks to video footage captured by a regional daily journalist.

Dana Hooper has been ordered to do unpaid work after footage of the attack was recorded by Jody Doherty-Cove, pictured, a reporter at Brighton daily The Argus.

Jody filmed Hooper, 24, throwing her drink over Nick Hulley as he lay in a doorway on 13 October, Brighton Magistrates Court heard, before calling the police and ambulance services.

A clip from the phone video, which went viral online after being published, was played in court as part of the prosecution evidence against Hooper, who had followed Mr Hulley after an earlier confrontation.

Hooper, who lives in a hostel in Portslade, pleaded guilty to common assault by throwing her drink over Mr Hulley last month.

District Judge Teresa Szagun told Hooper: “I found it was an aggravating feature you were prepared to continue following him – whilst he was being assaulted by others – to add to the humiliation by the action you took.”

Suzanne Soros, prosecuting, had told the court: “She carried on abusing him even after people were saying to leave him alone.

“They describe kicking while he was on the floor and he was shouting and groaning in pain.”

Ed Fish, defending, said Hooper has been afraid to leave home since The Argus video went viral and had been subjected to abuse and threats.

“She does apologise and she regrets it.”

The judge acknowledged Hooper had a difficult background and ordered her to serve a 12-month community order including 12 rehabilitation days and 80 hours unpaid work.

She will also be under electronic weekend curfew and will have £175 costs and surcharge deducted from her benefits.

Praising Jody’s actions, Argus editor Arron Hendy told HTFP: “Jody is everything you need in a journalist, exposing wrongdoing and always being ready to do a story.

“It was no surprise that his quick thinking has helped to bring about justice in this case.

“He is always ready with his camera to capture what is going on, as was evidenced again during the general election, when his video of Lloyd Russell-Moyle’s speech went from The Argus to being used by the nationals and the likes of Jeremy Vine.”

It is not the first time Jody has been involved in foiling a criminal act.

HTFP reported in January this year how he helped Arron “steal” his own bicycle back from thieves after being advised to do so by police.